The proposed new suckler scheme included in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 consultation document is called the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme.
Farmers participating will be required to commit to a five-year contract.
Its aim is outlined as “to build on the gains delivered thus far through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd and reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production.
Limit on payments
Payment rates have not been set out, nor has the total sum of money allocated to it.
The payment rate will be based on a historical reference year, which has also not been decided upon, and this reference number will be the upper number of animals on which payment can be received.
Farmers will be able to reduce numbers below this reference number and this will then become their new payment level.
The scheme will prevent a participant increasing their suckler cow numbers over the course of the contract
The document states “the scheme will prevent a participant increasing their suckler cow numbers over the course of the contract". However, in the exceptional cases where a farmer has had a very marginal increase and to ensure that small changes do not impact on farmer participation, the Department will allow some flexibility on this provision.
Scheme design
The scheme, or intervention as it is termed in the consultation document, will consist of two measures running parallel to each other, aimed at improving the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd.
Measure A is open to participants who were a participant in BDGP on 1 June 2021, while measure B will be open to participants who were not previously in BDGP or if they were they were not still participating on 1 June 2021.
Participants in both measure A and B will have to complete four mandatory actions within each year of the scheme.
The document states that the actions will have differing targets, with actions proposed including ensuring a replacement strategy is in place, genotyping, weighing and data recording.
Essentially, the scheme will replace BDGP and BEEP and take actions from each of these schemes.
Complementary actions
It is also proposed that participants can opt to select two complementary actions which must be completed in each year of the five-year contract.
Actions are the same for measure A and measure B participants and include forage quality and faecal egg testing.
All applicants will also be required to attend a half-day livestock handling course before the end of year two, with this focused on reducing farm deaths relating to livestock.
Where a farmer is participating in both the Suckler Carbon Efficieny Programme and the Dairy Beef Scheme, payment can only be made for training in one scheme.
Proposed eligibility and selection criteria
In order to be eligible for participation, the document states an applicant must:
Have submitted a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS ) application in a reference year and continue to submit BISS applications on which all their lands are declared for the duration of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme.Have beef breed animals born annually in the herd in each scheme year of the measure.There will be a historical reference year - TBC.Be a member of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme.
The proposed new suckler scheme included in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 consultation document is called the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme.
Farmers participating will be required to commit to a five-year contract.
Its aim is outlined as “to build on the gains delivered thus far through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd and reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production.
Limit on payments
Payment rates have not been set out, nor has the total sum of money allocated to it.
The payment rate will be based on a historical reference year, which has also not been decided upon, and this reference number will be the upper number of animals on which payment can be received.
Farmers will be able to reduce numbers below this reference number and this will then become their new payment level.
The scheme will prevent a participant increasing their suckler cow numbers over the course of the contract
The document states “the scheme will prevent a participant increasing their suckler cow numbers over the course of the contract". However, in the exceptional cases where a farmer has had a very marginal increase and to ensure that small changes do not impact on farmer participation, the Department will allow some flexibility on this provision.
Scheme design
The scheme, or intervention as it is termed in the consultation document, will consist of two measures running parallel to each other, aimed at improving the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd.
Measure A is open to participants who were a participant in BDGP on 1 June 2021, while measure B will be open to participants who were not previously in BDGP or if they were they were not still participating on 1 June 2021.
Participants in both measure A and B will have to complete four mandatory actions within each year of the scheme.
The document states that the actions will have differing targets, with actions proposed including ensuring a replacement strategy is in place, genotyping, weighing and data recording.
Essentially, the scheme will replace BDGP and BEEP and take actions from each of these schemes.
Complementary actions
It is also proposed that participants can opt to select two complementary actions which must be completed in each year of the five-year contract.
Actions are the same for measure A and measure B participants and include forage quality and faecal egg testing.
All applicants will also be required to attend a half-day livestock handling course before the end of year two, with this focused on reducing farm deaths relating to livestock.
Where a farmer is participating in both the Suckler Carbon Efficieny Programme and the Dairy Beef Scheme, payment can only be made for training in one scheme.
Proposed eligibility and selection criteria
In order to be eligible for participation, the document states an applicant must:
Have submitted a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS ) application in a reference year and continue to submit BISS applications on which all their lands are declared for the duration of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme.Have beef breed animals born annually in the herd in each scheme year of the measure.There will be a historical reference year - TBC.Be a member of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme. 
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